Linotype-machine



(No Model.)

D. S. KENNEDY. LINOTYPE MACHINE.

No. 586,337. Patented July 13, 1897.

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DAVID S. KENNEDY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERGENTHALER LIN OTYPE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

LINOTYPE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,337, dated July 13, 1897. Application filed January 7,1897. Serial No. 618,228. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID S. KENNEDY, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Linotype-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In linotype-machines of the character represented in Letters Patent of the United States No. 436,532, dated September 16, 1890, there are used elongated double-wedge spacing devices. During the composition of the line of matrices these spacers are dropped into the line at the proper points and passed down through the line until arrested by ears on their upper ends encountering the top of the assembler. It is found that they occasionally descend with such violence that the ears encountering the top of the assembler are broken off thereby. It is also found that when the front of the assembler is opened to permit corrections in the composition the spacers, being no longer sustained by the front, are liable to slip down into an improper position in the assembler, causing delay and occasional breakage.

My invention consists in a stop or buffer arranged in such position as to arrest and sustain the lower ends of the descending spaces as they enter the line in course of composition in such manner as to give them support and also to prevent them from twist ing or slipping out of posit-ion.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the assembling mechanism of the ordinary Mergenthaler machine with myimprovement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Y

Referring to the drawings, A represents the usual assembling-elevator, into which the matrices B and the spacers O are delivered one after another in the usual manner, the matrices descending on the belt D being delivered thence into the end of the assembler, while the spaces descend through guidechannel E into the assembler in like manner. The foregoing parts may all be constructed and arranged to operate as usual.

F represents my space-band buifer or protector, consisting simply of a small rod or Wire lying in substantially a horizontal position and seated at one end within a supporting-plate G. Its height and position are such that as each space-band falls into position through the assembler at the end of the line its lower end, notched as usual, will straddle and bear upon the bufier in the manner clearly shown in both figures. The height of the buffer is such as to receive and carry the weight of the spacer just before the ears of the latter reach the top of the assembler, as shown in Fig. 2.

The buffer, extending through the notch in the spaces, prevents the latter from twisting or turning. Consequently when the hinged front of the assembler is opened, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to permit corrections in or hand-spacing of the line the buffer serves to retain the spacers in their'proper positions. It prevents their rear ears from slipping over the assembler and prevents them from twisting or slipping down below their proper positions in the line.

I am aware that a stop has been used to check the descent of the spacers in a linotypemachine, but such stops were not straddled by the spacers and did not prevent the latter from turning or slipping out of position When the gate was opened.

The essence of my invention lies in a buffer located below the composing devices which serves the twofold purpose of checking the descent of the spacers in order to relieve their ears from shock and holding the spacers against a turning 0r twisting movement.

While I prefer to construct and support the bufier in the form herein shown, it will of course be understood that it may be varied in shape at will and supported in any suitable manner, provided it is arranged in such relation to the composing mechanism that it enters the notch in the space and serves the double purpose explained above.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a linotype-machine, a spacer stop or bufier substantially as described located be- In testimony whereof I hereunto set my neath the line-composing mechanism and hand, this 31st day of December, 1896, in the [0 adapted to check the descent of the spacers and also to prevent a twisting movement. presence of two attesting witnesses.

2. In a linotype-machine a spacer stop or T 5 bufier located beneath the composing mech- DAVID KENNEDX' anism and constructed and arranged to enter Witnesses: notches in the lower ends of the spacers sub- NORRIS EVANS, stantially as and for the purposes described. CHAS. A. EVANS. 

